Taxonomy of Buellia epigaea-group (Caliciales, Caliciaceae), revealing a new species and two new records from China

By

Grat︠s︡īanov, V. I.
Li, Lijuan
Worthy, Fiona Ruth
Yin, Ancheng
Zhong, Qiuyi
Wang, Shiqiong
Wang, Lisong
Wang, Xinyu

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

MycoKeys

Volume

92

Pages

45--62

Subjects

lichenized fungi , nuITS-nuLSU-mtSSU-β-tubulin , phylogenetic analysis , terricolous , Tibetan Plateau

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2011-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.92.83939

 

Abstract

During the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program, we discovered that white terricolous lichenized fungal species of Buellia De Not. were widely distributed across the Tibetan Plateau. After examining their morphology, chemistry and phylogeny, we describe Buellia alpina Xin Y. Wang & Li S. Wang, sp. nov. as new to science. It is present in alpine meadows, and is characterized by its effigurate thallus, distinct linear marginal lobes, cover of thick white pruina and four-spored asci. This is also the first report of Buellia elegans Poelt and Buellia epigaea (Pers.) Tuck from China. The Buellia epigaea-group has previously been characterized by white and often effigurate thalli that occur mainly on soil. However, our results show that species in this group actually belong to two distinct clades. This conclusion is based on analyses of the nuITS region and the combined regions dataset (nuITS-nuLSU-mtSSU-β-tubulin). We discuss differences in morphology, anatomy, chemistry and ecology among the putative Buellia epigaea-group. Detailed descriptions and figures for the three species from China and a key for species of Buellia epigaea-group are provided.